Louisiana Dynamo/Dash TDP News

(3/31/22) -Louisiana Talent Development Program Elite (LATDP Elite) will join the Girls Academy (GA) for the upcoming 2022/23 season. Similar to the LATDP Elite boys program, the LATDP Elite Girls program will bring together elite talent from around the region to form teams in the U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, and U19 age groups.

The Girls Academy is the leading youth development platform for the best female soccer players in the United States. League play begins in August and culminates with the playoffs and national finals events in June and July. Additionally, qualifying teams compete in a separate, aspirational platform created to add additional quality competition for the most competitive clubs in the GA.

“We’re excited to add LATDP Elite to the Girls Academy,” said GA Commissioner Lesle Gallimore. “There is a player pool in Louisiana that has earned the opportunity to begin a top national platform and we know their leadership understands the commitment, challenge, and standards required for the successful development of players.”

LA TDP Elite is a collaboration and partnership among LA Fire, Baton Rouge Soccer Club, and Lafayette Dynamo Juniors in affiliation with the Houston Dynamo Academy. The purpose of LATDP Elite is to provide players from the member clubs and players in the region access exposure to the highest level of play in North America. Each team will train under the direction of high-level coaches to compete against the best teams and players in the country.

In the 2021/22 season, club teams and players from BRSC, LA Fire, Lafayette Dynamo, and players statewide competed in the Development Player League (DPL) in an effort to prove Louisiana’s ability to compete at higher levels of play. In the DPL’s February club rankings, LATDP Elite ranked third in the nation due to the success of all teams in league play and the #DPLFL22 Showcase.

Kiran Booluck will serve as LATDP Elite Girls Academy Director. Booluck has an extensive list of certifications which include: USSF A License, UEFA B License, USC Director of Coaching Diploma, USYS National Youth, USC National Diploma, USC Level 1 and 2 Goalkeeping, USYS Youth Module U6-U8, USYS Youth Module U10-U12, English FA Level 1 and 2, English FA Level 1 and 2 Goalkeeping.

“Kiran brings a vast knowledge of programming and directorship to the LATDP Elite GA program,” said BRSC Executive Director Louie Smothermon. “Coach Kiran has served as the Senior teams’ competitive Director, Outreach Director, and College Recruitment Director for the Baton Rouge Soccer Club (BRSC). Kiran has coached multiple BRSC  teams, ODP teams, high school teams, and currently the MLS NEXT 2006 boys and BRSC 2008 girls. We are looking forward to Kiran’s leadership in bringing together the talented female players in our area, state, and region.”

Joining Booluck’s staff as Assistant GA Director is Bobby Velasquez. Valesquez currently serves as the Director of Coaching for Girls and a staff coach for the Louisiana Fire Soccer Club. He also leads the club as Academy Technical Director.  In addition, Velasquez also serves as Director of Soccer at St. Martin’s Episcopal School.

His club teams have won numerous local, state, and regional championships. Velasquez has earned licenses with the Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA), as well as with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS).

“Bobby brings a wealth of soccer expertise,” said Hubie Collins, Executive Director of Coaching for the Louisiana Fire Soccer Club. “Coach Bobby is especially skilled at developing his athletes into good students of the game through targeted, age-appropriate practice sessions.”

Additional details about the Girls Academy program, staff, and tryouts will be available on latdpelite.com

“Louisiana Total Development Program will join MLS NEXT as members for the 2021-22 season, a source familiar with MLS Next’s plans told Soccer America.

A full slate of expansion teams will be announced in May.”

“LATDP is a new club representing programs in Baton Rouge (Baton Rouge SC), Lafayette (Dynamo Juniors), and New Orleans (Louisiana Fire SC).”

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Houston Sports Park, Houston – It was a groundbreaking day in November as the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash 07 & 08 Boys kicked off the first official games of the Talent Development Program (TDP). Both teams traveled to Houston Sports Park to train with Houston Dynamo Academy staff and play local Dynamo Academy teams.

The 2008 Boys were coached by BRSC Executive Director Louie Smothermon and the 2007 boys were under the direction of BRSC Competitive Coach TS Noble. Each team arrived at the Dynamo training facility on Sunday, November 22nd to hold a brief training session before taking on the first opponents of the weekend. The 08 boys played 08 Dynamo South PA while the 07 boys played 09 Catalyst TC. Both teams started off the trip with wins. The 08 boys won 5-3 and the final score for the 07 boys was unavailable at the time of publication.

Each team returned for training Monday, November 23rd at 9:30 to train directly with the Houston Dynamo Academy staff. Coaches instructed players on the Dynamo style of play focusing on technical work, game-like situations, and controlled activities in small-sided games.

After a brief break from training, each team would go on to play two teams. The 08 Boys defeated the 09 Catalyst TFC 4-2 and the 07s would lose to TFC – MLS (07) 3-1. In the afternoon game, the 08’s would fall to 08B Dynamo Academy, the #3 ranked 2008 Boys team in the nation, by a final of 5-0. The 07’s would close out the weekend with a 0-0 tie versus Dynamo Academy (08/07).

The events of the weekend would conclude on Tuesday, November 24th with a final training and evaluation session. Overall the Dynamo Academy staff was very pleased with the performance of both groups and strongly encouraged players to keep working on the points of emphasis in the training sessions and overall development.

Plans for a spring trip back to the Houston Dynamo Academy for the 2007 and 2008 boys are currently in the works for the 2021 spring TDP season.

Learn more about the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash TDP program at https://brsoccer.org/la-dynamo-dash-tdp.

Foley, AL – On December 12th and 13th the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash 06/07 Girls traveled to Foley, Alabama to participate in the Gulf States College Showcase. As the premier showcase tournament in the gulf south, the event provided each player the opportunity to play in front of women’s collegiate coaches as they begin to navigate the recruiting process. In all thirty-five coaches were in attendance.

The purpose of the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash program is to provide a pathway for elite players within the Louisiana Dynamo pyramid to receive greater exposure to higher-level training and playing opportunities. It also provides additional opportunities for players to be seen and scouted by collegiate coaches. The Louisiana Dynamo/Dash 06/07 Girls was comprised of the players from BRSC and Louisiana Dynamo.

The 06/07 Girls had an excellent showing on the weekend by defeating the Gulf Coast Rangers (4-1) and Cajun Rush (2-0). The two-game win streak would come to an end against Mobile United FC with a (1-1) draw. The final 2-0-1 record would be enough to secure a first-place finish in the division. 

Plans for a spring TDP season are currently in the works and details for tryouts for teams with openings will be available soon.

Learn more about the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash Talent Development (TDP) program here.

Team photo from left to right:
Top: (Left to Right) Coach Melín, Mia Ganote, Valeria Gabrie, Greenley Duplantis, Riley Hicock, Kristina Wilkerson, Devyn Breaux, Abigail DeAngelo, Annaleigh Bruser.
Bottom: (Left to Right) Ashlyn DeSoto, Claire Finley, Emrie LeBlanc, Lundyn Naden, Kate DeAngelo.
Not pictured: Sophia Mitchell 

While the weather was a cool 73° in the mid-December Gulf States College Showcase in Foley, AL, the Louisiana Dynamo/Dah 02/03 Girls were red hot. The team was comprised of elite players from Louisiana Dynamo, LA Fire, and Baton Rouge Soccer Club. Players were selected for the team following an intense series of tryouts at Burbank Soccer Complex.
In three matches at the Gulf States College Showcase, the Louisiana Dynamo/Dash 02/03 girls held three opponents scoreless and never scored fewer than six goals in a contest. The team girls their first game 6-0 against Dothan Shockers FC and followed it up with a 7-0 victory against Southern States Soccer. The final match finished much like the previous two games with a 6-0 against Perdido Bay FC.

Plans for the 2021 Spring TDP Program are currently in development, and tryout dates will be available soon.

Team photo from left to right:
Madeline Brignac, Emma Godwin, Faith Wilson, Madison “Bones” Dronet, Dejah Marsh, Lundyn Ladner, Anna Kathryn Charbonnet, Kristan Large, Ashli Williams, Sydney Charles, Lily Mittendorf